CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA (CHS)
is a Child Care Resources and Referral Program serving all of
Orange County. Parents can obtain information about child care
programs matched to their needs and preferences. Listings are
maintained on licensed family child care homes and child care
centers.

CalWorks
Families receiving any type of welfare support and who are working
or going to school are entitled to child care support. Contact
your case worker and request child care. Or call the County
of Orange, Social Service Agency for a referral to their closest
regional office.

County of Orange, Social Service Agency
Phone: (714) 541-7700
Website: www.oc.ca.gov/ssa

Alternative Payment Program
Families who meet income requirements based on their family
size, as established by the California Department of Education
(CDE), Child Development Division (CDD) and who are working
or going to school; are employed or are seeking employment (60
days allowed per fiscal year); are incapacitated and unable
to care for their child(ren) for part of the day; or are referred
by a social service agency or legally qualified professional
identifying that the child(ren) is/are at risk of abuse or neglect
without child care assistance; or referred by a legally qualified
professional describing child's special need, which cannot be
met without provision of child care and development services.

Call Children's Home Society (CHS) to request an eligibility
questionnaire.

An eligibility questionnaire will be mailed to you.

Answer all questions and mail it back to CHS.

If you are NOT eligible for subsidized child care services, you will be notified by mail.

If you ARE eligible, you will receive a rank number from
1 to 75 based on your gross income adjusted for your family
size, and your information will be kept on file.

When there is an opening for someone at your rank, you will
be notified either by mail or phone. Families who submit an
eligibility questionnaire and are eligible to receive subsidized
child care services, are ranked from 1 to 75 based on their
gross income and adjusted for their family size and demonstrated
need.
As openings occur and funding becomes available, families are
enrolled by the following priorities:

Families who have a Child Protective Services referral, whose children are at risk of abuse or neglect.

Families with lowest ranking based on gross income and family size.

Note: This is not a traditional
waiting list. Families in lowest rank will be served first,
when funding is available. Children's Home Society cannot determine
how long a family will wait for services since the number of
people at each rank can change daily with each eligibility questionnaire
received.
Website: www.chs-ca.org

State Subsidized Child Care Centers (General Child Care)
The State contracts with several local school districts and
private child care centers to offer child care to families who
qualify as stated above. Check with your local school district
or call the Orange County Department of Education for a complete
listing.

Head Start
Head Start is a federally funded program that offers half-day
and full-day child care, health, and social services for families
with children aged 3 to 5 years of age, based on Federal Income
Guidelines.

Those eligible include:

Families with children from 4 through 4 years

Children with special needs with an Individual Education
Plan (IEP), Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP), foster
children, with high risk factors, or with a parent with
a disability and/or possessing disabling conditions.

Families of immigrants or refugees

Families participating in CalWorks, working full time, attending school or job training

Head Start is available at no cost to income eligible families.
For a complete visiting of programs in the local area, call
Orange County Head Start.

Call the local office of the California Department
of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division to register
for a free Orientation Session, which are held once each month.
To obtain a license, all must first attend this informational
workshop.